Nearly 50 reporters of India's major news agency, Press Trust of India, today [3 June 2012] received a special audience with His Holiness the Dalai Lama in Dharamsala.

Interacting with the reporters at Tsuglagkhang, the main temple, His Holiness the Dalai Lama explained his commitments to promote secular ethics and religious harmony in this world.

"Even though the world has made tremendous development in education, science and technology, there is still corruption, exploitation, bullying, crime, which is a clear indication that the world lacks moral principle," His Holiness said.

He said "India is a living example of secular ethics as it is the only country in this world where all the major world religious traditions live in peaceful co-existence."

"India should pay more attention about the promotion of secular ethics and moral principles," he said, adding, "these innate values and sense of concern for others well-being and compassion should be further nurtured and developed. Through this we can develop compassion, which is universal, irrespective of whether one is believer or a non-believer," he said.

"The promotion of secular ethics is my number one commitment, and where ever I go I always described myself as a messenger of the ancient Indian traditions of Ahinsa (non-violence) and respect for all people," he said.

He further said, the India media has the responsibility to educate people about the country's millennia-old ethical values as it faces serious corruption.

Recounting his meetings with Indian religious leaders and former deputy prime minister L. K. Advani, His Holiness said the religious leaders should take more active role in promoting ancient Indian values. They should educate the younger generation about the thousands of year old traditional values, and its relevance to the today's world not only in India but throughout the world, he added.

He said the media should make clear to the public the wrongdoings by politicians, economists and religious leaders and others, and also their positive deeds, in a truthful, honest and objective manner.

On being asked what good things he has learnt from India which help him in teaching the entire world about spirituality, His Holiness said he feels proud that his mind is filled with ancient India's Nalanda thoughts and his body is built with Indian rice and dal.

His Holiness, however, expressed disappointment that India degenerates by not giving sufficient efforts in studying the ancient Indian traditions and philosophies taught by great Nalanda masters. "Now time has come for the Indians, especially Indian Buddhists, to pay more attention on the study these teachings rather than just recite these as mantras," he said.

Replying to a query on his views about Anna Hazare's crusade against corruption in India, His Holiness said "such movement is useful in reminding people how much serious corruption is. Such movement alone can eliminate corruption, I doubt." As a long-term solution to the problem, he said "we must introduce in the education system to teach our posterity right from their childhood that honesty and truthful are very essential to lead a happy life."

His Holiness the Dalai Lama said Tibetans are reliable chela (disciple) of Indian guru (teacher) because we have kept alive the ancient India's Nalanda traditions through many millennium. "So I may mention here, though it is little bit politics, that logically when the reliable chela faces some problem, the Guruji should pay more attention to the fate of the chela," he added.

"In reality, the Tibetan problem is also India's problem. So the India media should inform and educate the public, especially youths, about the real situation in Tibet, its culture and the unique Indo-Tibetan relationships, through articles and discussions," he said.

His Holiness recounted that the generation of Indian leaders, such as Jayaprakash Narayan and Sardar Patel, show real foresightedness and serious concern about Tibet. The next generation could not catch up in their spirit, but recently, more and more people from the younger generation are really showing genuine concern about the issue of Tibet, he added.

"The Tibetan culture, which is actually India's culture, is facing so much destruction in Tibet. So our guru, India, should show your concern. So long the Tibetan culture remain alive, it will act as the first defence line of India. Once that culture is gone, it poses an additional problem. So far, even if Tibet is physical controlled by the communist China, but mentally and spiritually, it is very close to India," he said.